Boarded-up shop fronts in the Crystal Palace triangle could be transformed into cutting-edge art galleries and display venues.

More than 25 local artists, headed by local resident Roy Peterson, 56, are campaigning to use vacant shops in the triangle area to showcase their work.

They hope to take over six shop fronts to display art works and open a central art gallery from the first weekend in June.

Mr Peterson said: “I got so sick of seeing shop after shop being shut and boarded-up.

“It looks really horrible having so many standing empty and it kills off the high street.”

Croydon Enterprise, helping the group in organising short-term, temporary leasing, supports the venture.

Spokeswoman Sharon Baldwin said: “The art works should improve the street scene while being beneficial to landlords, who will have a better chance of renting out their premises when they look clean and smart.”

According to market research company Experian, one in six shops will be vacant by the end of the year, more than doubling the number of empty units in the UK to 135,000.

Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for communities and local government, highlighted projects such as Mr Peterson’s, which aim to utilise this vacant space, earlier this month.

She announced a possible £3m of funding for thousands of small grants for people who find creative reuse for empty shops.

The Arts Council for London also welcomed the scheme.

Executive director Moira Sinclair said: “We welcome the Government's announcement to make this sort of initiative more widespread, and perhaps provide a silver lining to our current economic woes.”

Mr Peterson has now set his sights on putting Crystal Palace on the international art map.

“The Olympics are less then two years away and I want visitors to come here and think, ‘wow, I saw such wonderful art’.

"It could be a really amazing attraction,” he said.

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